Come sail with me on a virtual cruise to Hawaii on Ruby Princess

[dickinson]

Sheryl Crowe sings the song with the lyrics "all I want to do is have some fun when the sun comes up over Santa Monica Blvd".

[Reader0108598]

On 11/9/2020 at 6:07 PM, ellie1145 said:

I can remember watching the TV series Route 66 in the 60s, in black and white.

 

It was one of many American TV series we had in the UK (Bilko,  I love Lucy, The Beverley Hillbillies, Dr Kildare, to name but a few!)

 

I am sorry to hear that Route 66 is fast disappearing. Thank you for the information. 

Oh wow now we are going back! Loved those shows 🙂

 

[Reader0108598]

1 hour ago, Reader0108598 said:

Duplicate post!

 

 

Edited November 10, 2020 by Reader0108598

[ellie1145]

15 hours ago, dickinson said:

Sheryl Crowe sings the song with the lyrics "all I want to do is have some fun when the sun comes up over Santa Monica Blvd".

 

You are absolutely right, Dickinson! 

 

One of my brand new, completely updated, full size, super powered,  ULTRA VORTEX  vacuum cleaners, just imported from China, is waiting to wing its way to you via Amazon, the river of course!  You will wonder how you ever managed without one, and they make wonderful Christmas presents too...😉

[ellie1145]

14 hours ago, Reader0108598 said:

Oh wow now we are going back! Loved those shows 🙂

 

 

Those were the days, weren’t they?

 

Life was simple, programmes were in black and white, and the most exciting thing before we went to bed was watching the little white star gradually disappear from the very tiny screen when we turned the TV off. The television would then be carefully covered with a cloth - not sure why, maybe to hide it from burglars?

[JF - retired RRT]

1 minute ago, ellie1145 said:

 

Those were the days, weren’t they?

 

Life was simple, programmes were in black and white, and the most exciting thing before we went to bed was watching the little white star gradually disappear from the very tiny screen when we turned the TV off. The television would then be carefully covered with a cloth - not sure why, maybe to hide it from burglars?

Prevents dust bunnies from invading.

[ellie1145]

 

As we meander back along the pier we see some booths advertising tours which would take us into LA itself, but as they are about 5 hours long we don't  feel we have time to do that today, as well as doing last minute preparations for tomorrow. We just wish we had another day as we would have enjoyed a tour which didn’t involve us driving. Still, that is one for the bucket list.

 

As we reach the end of the pier we are accosted by a young man called Gerald, offering another Surf City Tour, but this time it’s only $50 instead of $85, which seems quite a bargain for a five and a half hour tour.

 

 

It has four major stops, including the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lunch at the Farmer’s Market and Rodeo Drive. It would be great to see some of the homes of the stars, and to pass by famous hotels, especially if we didn’t have to drive.

 

However, we really don’t have time to fit this in, although it is very tempting. If only we’d seen this two days ago! But maybe next time!

 

 

 

We walk back through the town, past a McDonalds and pop in for a cup of tea and some cookies, and whilst there we get chatting to an American gentleman at the next door table. He is very friendly and says he is a writer who re-writes scripts for movies.  He is very interesting and tells us lots about the area.

 

 

 

Everywhere on the side of the pavements there are these little electric scooters which you can hire and then leave wherever you like.

 

 

Apparently, the scooter companies go out at night and collect them , charge them up, and return them to various parts of the town. He tells us that the locals really like them and use them to get about. It’s 15 cents per minute. Seems like a great idea.

Edited November 11, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

11 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Prevents dust bunnies from invading.

 

Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? 🤣

[ellie1145]

🎵  So go downtown

       Things will be great when you're downtown

       Don't wait a minute more, downtown

       Everything's  waiting for you.  🎵

                           (fastest finger first!)

 

Downtown Santa Monica

 

We wander through the streets of this charming town, on our way back to the car.

 

 

 

We wander round Santa Monica Place, and pop into the Cheesecake Factory where there is the usual array of mouthwatering cakes. 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by ellie1145

[ceilie1]

Just boarding our plane to make our way to join you on the ship tomorrow. We are totally going to enjoy our adventure with you all.This is our first time on this ship.

[voljeep]

Petula Clark - no google needed

 

bet you didn't think it would be me that answered, huh ?

[ellie1145]

We get back in the car and drive down the coast again, past some really interesting and quaint houses, and a few monstrosities.

 

We drive through Manhattan Beach with wonderful views to the sea.....

 

and some amazing houses - love the balconies! 

 

 

 

Then it’s Hermosa Beach and more spectacular properties. Love this corner house.

 

 

 

 

We then find a nice Panera for a late lunch.

 

 

After that I have a final quick look round Target and and we finish off with a brief visit to Walmart and Dollar Tree.

 

By this time we are pretty tired so we drive back to the hotel to dump our bags before taking the car back to Alamo. We’ve decided not to try to do that tomorrow morning as it’s a bit of a mission, and it will make our departure tomorrow so much easier.

 

We get an Uber back to the hotel. It really is an amazing system, which has worked so well, and we have a very nice chatty driver. What a contrast to the Fort Lauderdale taxi drivers who are invariably grumpy and verging on rude. 

 

Now this is something you definitely WON’T find in the UK!

 

 

[ellie1145]

4 minutes ago, voljeep said:

Petula Clark - no google needed

 

bet you didn't think it would be me that answered, huh ?

 

Well, I had a feeling you might be lurking, voljeep. Don’t tell me you are actually enjoying this ‘rehash?’ 🤣

 

Well, whatever the reason, it’s great to see you and of course, one of my brand new, completely updated, full size, super powered, ULTRA VORTEX vacuum cleaners, just imported from China, is waiting to wing its way to you via Amazon, the river of course!  

 

Now you may wonder what all that is about, and I’m sorry to say you will need to read my Majestic Princess Fiji cruise blog if you want to find out.🙈

 

All I will say is - dude, looks like a lady! 😉

[ellie1145]

36 minutes ago, ceilie1 said:

Just boarding our plane to make our way to join you on the ship tomorrow. We are totally going to enjoy our adventure with you all.This is our first time on this ship.

 

Have a safe flight, ceilie1, we look forward to seeing you tomorrow! 

[ellie1145]

🎶   One more dawn

        One more day

        One day more! 🎶

 

Back at the hotel we go straight up to our room and I do most of the packing ready for tomorrow. We walk down to Denny’s for a snack and it’s a lovely evening.

 

It is exciting to think that this time tomorrow we will be on Ruby Princess.

 

With everything laid out for the morning, and after a quick shower, we both fall exhaustedly into bed.

 

It’s been a great few days and we have really enjoyed seeing so many interesting places, not to mention being able to do some shopping.

 

Now it’s nearly time to board Ruby Princess.

 

Hope you are all ready and waiting with passports and boarding documents in hand.

 

[ellie1145]

🎶  One more dawn

       One more day

       One day more!  🎶

 

We sleep well in our comfy bed. Although our room faces the runway, the noise hasn’t been intrusive - until this morning!

 

At about 1.00 AM we are woken by the enormous noise of a large jet overhead. It really sounds as if it is going to join us in bed! We think that maybe they’ve changed runways today and that’s why we can hear the planes so much more. We’ve been lucky to have 3 relatively quiet nights. However, it isn’t a problem and we manage to doze on and off until around 4.30.

I’m so excited about today and I can’t wait to get going. 

 

We shower and dress, and when we are all packed and ready to leave the room we walk down to Denny’s for our final meal.

 

 

We both opt for a light ‘over 55’ breakfast,  which is very good value.

 

We walk back to the hotel. It’s a beautiful sunny morning with clear blue skies.

 

 

 

We have thought long and hard about how to get to San Pedro, and of course, turned to CC for advice and suggestions, but in the end we decide to book an Uber on the day, as they have been so convenient and efficient to far.

 

We had even tried to change our final night in LA to a hotel in San Pedro, but it wasn’t possible, and returning our Alamo car there was not feasible.

 

 

Although it’s only 20 miles, we have been told that it can take an hour and a half due to the congested roads at peak times, so we want to ensure that we arrive in plenty of time. We just can’t wait to get onboard Ruby Princess for the start of our Hawaiian adventure.  

 

So on our return to the hotel we gather our suitcases and make our way down to the lobby and check out of our room. 

 

We’ve really enjoyed our stay here and are sad to leave. Leaving DH with the luggage I pop up to the pool area to check it out. Unfortunately we just haven’t had time to use it. 

 

 

 

We’ve really enjoyed our stay here and are sad to leave.

 

 

 

  DH calls for an Uber which arrives swiftly at 9.30 AM, and whisks us away on our journey to San Pedro. The driver is very friendly and chats to us as we journey towards the port.  

 

 

 The roads are quite busy but we make good progress and drive past the Battleship Iowa Museum at the Terminal just after 10.00. am.

 

We have arrived! Hooray!

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

 

🎶 Won’t you let me take you on a sea cruise? 🎶

 

So there we are, Cruising Adventurers!

 

After our short sojourn in Los Angeles we are finally ready to board Ruby Princess.

 

I hope you have all arrived safely and are on your way to San Pedro.

 

See you in the Terminal! 🚢

 

[TeaBag]

Bon Voyage.  It will be so nice to see what we missed while we cruise with you.  We were booked on Ruby in may for a very short Pacific coastal cruise.

 

So glad that plane didn't land in your bed.

[ellie1145]

14 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

So glad that plane didn't land in your bed.

You and me, both, TeaBag!

 

At first I thought it was DH snoring,  but even he can’t make that much noise! 🤣

[Loucat]

We are ready to board and so looking forward to this cruise. First up is to have a lovely lunch and plan the rest of the boarding day.

Maybe we will meet up at muster drill!

[StrawberryHill]

We will see you at the cruise terminal as we are getting off the Ruby Princess on that same day after our wonderful 15 day trip to the islands and back.

[ellie1145]

14 hours ago, Loucat said:

We are ready to board and so looking forward to this cruise. First up is to have a lovely lunch and plan the rest of the boarding day.

Maybe we will meet up at muster drill!

 

Glad to hear you made it, Loucat!

 

Will look out for you at muster drill! Or maybe at lunch....can’t wait!

[ellie1145]

1 hour ago, StrawberryHill said:

We will see you at the cruise terminal as we are getting off the Ruby Princess on that same day after our wonderful 15 day trip to the islands and back.

 

We will be looking out for you! 

[ellie1145]

Battleship Iowa Museum

 

 

I have to admit that I had no idea that the Battleship Iowa Museum was located right next door to the Cruise Terminal. I wish we had time to visit it, but Ruby Princess is waiting.

 

Iowa is a retired US Navy battleship, named after that state. She served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, and carried President Franklin D Roosevelt across the Atlantic, to meet Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin for an important meeting in 1943.

 

She also served in the Pacific fleet and was used as the Third Fleet flagship in Tokyo Bay during the Japanese surrender. Her career continued during the Korean War, after which she was decommissioned, although she was later reactivated in 1984 to operate in both the Atlantic and Pacific, countering the Soviet Navy’s expansion in this area.

 

Tragically, in 1989, during a gunnery exercise there was an explosion onboard which ripped through a gun turret, resulting in the death of 47 crewmen.

 

After 19 years of active service she was finally decommissioned in 1990, and in 2012 she was towed to Berth 87 in the World Cruise Centre at San Pedro, where she is now open to the public as a museum.

 

Now here is a little bit of trivia for you! When President Franklin D. Roosevelt sailed onboard her to the Cairo and Tehran Conferences in WWII, they had to fit a bathtub for his use as, due to his paralysis, he could not use a standard shower.

 

Having had such a distinguished career it is wonderful that she should end her days as a museum, rather than being torn apart in a scrapyard. At 45,000 tons, she is the biggest battleship ever built for the US Navy, and is as tall as a 15 storey building, and as long as 3 football pitches. She is an impressive sight with her massive gun towers and awesome guns - the largest guns on a US navy ship.

 

She is certainly something I would love to visit in the future.

[cr8tiv1]

Iowa's sister ship is the Missouri ported at Pearl Harbor (Oahu).  I was leaving San Francisco on a Princess sister ship when the Iowa was being towed to San Pedro.  

 

Mahalo for resurrecting these memories.